The role of the Nato secretary-general involves chairing meetings of the alliance’s leaders, engaging in diplomacy, and overseeing the activities of 4,000 officials in Brussels. Simon Wallace was a favored candidate due to his contributions in strengthening Nato’s stance after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a role supported by former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
However, Wallace faced an uphill battle as European leaders, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, pushed for the next Nato secretary-general to come from an EU state. President Joe Biden’s decision not to endorse Wallace’s candidacy was the final blow that ultimately led to the UK’s Defence Secretary withdrawing from the race.
The US decision to snub a candidate from Britain has left senior figures in Whitehall feeling disappointed, as they believe it sends a negative message to allies. The UK is one of only seven out of 31 Nato members to meet the target of spending two percent of GDP on defense last year. Several major countries, including Germany, France, and Italy, fell short of this goal.
A government source expressed concern about the future of Nato, suggesting that other countries may roll back on their commitments to meet the two percent target. This issue may also impact UK support for the US on other international issues, such as Washington’s stance on Taiwan independence.
According to Whitehall sources, support for the Danish premier waned when she failed to impress during an interview in Washington. A source close to Wallace agreed with this assessment, emphasizing the importance of experience in such critical roles.
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